Apparatus for sealing containers



May 19, 1959 J. w. HILL APPARATUS FOR sEALxNG CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6. 1953 IN V EN TOR. a@ W13/K FLL May 19, 1959 J. w. HILL APPARATUS RoR SEALING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6. 1953 INVENTR.

May 19, 1959 .JL w. HILL APPARATUS RoR SEALING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 6, 1953 May 19, 1959 J. w. HILL.

APPARATUS Fox SEALING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheer. 4

Filed Aug. 6, 1953 INVENTOR. W :2%

May 19, 1959 J. w. HILL 2,886,816

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 6. 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 19, 1959 J. w. HILL.

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet. 6

Filed Aug. 6. 1953 MAL May 19, 1959 J. w. HILL APPARATUS FOR` SEALING CONTAINERS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 6, 1953 INVENToR. W//

May 19, 1959 J. w. Hlm.

APPARATUS Fox SEALING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. s. 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet. B

of predetermined length.

Unite States Patented May 19, 1959 APPARATUS non sentano CoNTAINERs John W. Hill, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Globe Com- C pany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois Application August 6, 195s, serial Na. 372,701

' 17 claims. (er. i-t'm The present invention relates to closing and sealing the iiexible ends of containers, such as casings, bags, p

for sausage meats, `and other moldable or plastic materials, although it has wide application and may be used to close flexible portions of a variety of containers.

lt is customary to iill long casings, either of the animal or artificial type, and then divide them into individual articles, or else to take and till inrividual casings In eithencase it is necessary to close the ends of the casings of the individual articles. This is accomplished in the present invention by clips of suitable material.

The apparatus of the present invention receives a cone tinuous strip of clip material, shapes the strip so that it is substantially U-shaped in cross section and cuts ot a proper length of material to form a clip blank. Thereafter the portion of the casing that is to receive the clip is gathered together and the clip is then forced tightly about "the gathered casing with the closed side of the U-shaped clip adjacent the casing and the spaced sides extending outwardly. The machine may be entirely automatic and apply clips to a continuouslength of casing lilled automatically by a iilling or stuing machine. However, the present machine may'be semi-automatic, in which case it is actuated by the operator'when desired to place the clip about the casing.

An object of the present invention is to provide automatic and semi-automatic machines for forming the clip blanks and properly securing the clips in place to close the containers. Y

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and claims when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view partially in section Vof a single acting clipping machine' embodying the pres- Ient invention withthe front cover plate removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view partially ini 'elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but including the front cover; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but including the front cover;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the "L line 4 4 of Fig. 1, but including the front cover;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of the machine shown in Fig. 1, but including the front cover;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of a portion of the y machine shown in Fig. 1 with certain parts thereof in changed position;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view partially in section, of the male and female forming tools mounted in their re spective tool holders;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the male forming tool and holder shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational View of the female forming tool initially :shaping the clip blank about the forming pin; i

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the male and femade forming tools shown in Fig. 7, cooperating to further bend the blank about a flexible casing portion;

Fig. 1l is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the torm- 4ing tools at the completion of the forming operation with the clip tightly Vlooped about a llexible casing portion to close it; f

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a gathering or iris member employed in the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the iris member shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an end elevational view of the operating end of the iris member shown Ain Figs. l2 and 13;

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the female forming tool mounted in its slide or carrier;

Fig. 16 is an end elevational view of the tool and carrier shown in Fig. l5;

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the tool and carrier shown in Figs. 15 and 16; l

Fig. 18 is a top plan View of la' gathering or iris member for cooperating with that shown in Figs. 12-14;

Fig. 19 is a side elevational View of the iris member shown in Fig. 18; l

Fig. 20 is an end elevational View of the iris member shown in Figs. 18 and 19; `i

Fig. 2l is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 21.-21 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional line 22-22 of Fig. l;V f

Fig. 23 is a side elevational 'view of the initial forming pin employed in the single-acting machine ofFigs.

Fig. 24 i-s a view of the strip of clip material from which the clips are formed; f 1

Fig. 25 is a view of a flexible container with a clip secured thereon by the clipping machineof Figs. 1-23;

Fig. 26 is a side elevationalview partiallyin. section of` a double-acting clipping machine .for simultaneously applying two clips to a flexible container, with the front cover plate removed; ,3

Fig. 27 is a oross-sectionalview partially in elevation taken on the line 27-27 of Fig. 26, but including. the

front and rear covers; l j v t Fig. 28 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken on the line 28-28 of Fig. 26,.but including the front and rear covers; i`

Fig. 29 is a side elevational view of the initial forming pin employed in the clipping machineshown in Figs. 26-28;'and i Fig. 30 is a side elevational view of a portion of flexible casing with the two clips secured thereon in spaced relation by the double-acting clipping machine of Figs, 26-28.

Referringto the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l-23, there is shown a single-acting clipping-machine for forming clip blanks and then securing them in place about a exible casing for the purpose of closing and sealing it. The single-acting machine is preferably of a semi-automatic type being so arranged that when actuated by the operator, it will go through one complete cycle which may consist of forming the clip blank, initially bending it, crimping or gathering the flexible casing portion to be closed, and tightly securing theclip about "the gathered casing portion to seal it. The machine may be employed for closing and sealing one end of an empty casing portion and also for closing and sealing the open end ofailledcasing. Y. .l

Thesingle-acting machine may...comprise..atbase .11

viewV taken on the mounted on suitable supports such as the legs 12. Extending upwardly from the base 11 is a rear supporting plate 13 upon which various of the parts of the machine are mounted. It also serves as a rear cover plate.

A holder 14 for a roll of suitable strip material from which the clips are formed is secured on the supporting plate 13. While any suitable material may be employed for the clips, metal, particularly aluminum, has been found preferable due to its strength, ductility and workability. *Aluminum strips 3/16 of an inch wide and 0.025 inch thick have proven very satisfactory. The strip or blank, illustrated in Fig. 24, is kpreferably provided with pairsof opposed notches extending inwardly from oppositewsidfes of the dat clip material. The notches are spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the clip. Therloweredges of thenotches extend substantially at right angles lto the length of the strip as shown at 16, `altl'iough the outer corners are preferably slightly rounded. The upper sides of the notch defining the lower end of apclip blank are rounded as shown at 17 and the upper and lower notch edges are connected by a narrow neck 18.

The at material 1,5A is fed preferably in a continuous strip from the roll mounted in the roll holder 14 into the top of the clipping machine between guide members 19 and` V21 to a pair of forming rolls 22 and 23 that impart a channel shape to the strip 15. l One of the rolls 22 has its periphery grooved and the cooperating roll 23 is beaded at the periphery to fit, into the groove in the roll 22. The rollsJ are suitably mounted on the rear supporting plate 13 and have intermeshing gears associated therewith. After passing through the forming rolls 22 and 23 the strip is substantially U-shaped` in transverse section with the closed sidel rounded and the two opposed sides extending outwardly therefrom in spaced substantially parallel relation.

From the rolls 22 and 23, the strip passes downwardly between a -pair of guides 24 and 25 fixedly mounted on the rear supporting plate 13. The inner face of the guide 24 is grooved to provide a channel for the closed side of the channel-shaped strip, while the opposed face of the guide 25 is flat for engaging the outwardly extend- 'ing opposed sides of the blank and holding itin the groove 4inthe guide 24.Y j

, The feed of vthe strip v15 is provided lby suitable mechavnisrn Vmounted on apull-down shaft 26 vertically movable in the base 11. The lower end of the pull-down shaft 26 is connected to a piston 27 reciprocable in an air cylinder '28'located below the base 11 and provided with air supply 'lines29 at its opposite ends. Suitable valve means control the supply and exhaust of the air to and from the `opposite ends of the cylinder -28 to etfect reciprocation of the piston 27 and the shaft 26. Movement of the piston may be limited exactly by a plug 30 threaded into the lower end vof vthe vcylinder and rlocked in place by a set screw thereon.

A clip guide 31 is mounted on the upper end of Vthe 'pull-down Ashaftby bolts or other suitable means. At the lower end ofthe clip Vguide 31 there is a cutoff bar 32. The 'inner face of the clip guide 31 is provided with 'a channel for receiving the'rounded side of the strip 15 therein. Also mounted at the upper end of the pulldown shaft 23 yis a latch holder or block 33 having a slot the lower end for a pivotally mounted latch 34 shaped to fit :into the notches in the sides of the strip. The latch 'is lurged toward the strip 15 by a leaf spring 35.

Also mounted on the pull-down shaft 26 is a forming Apin '36 shown particularly in Fig. 23. The base of the pin 36 ftsfintoaii opening provided therefor in the shaft 26 'slightly below the cutolf bar 32. A groove 37 of a shape to receive lthe closed sideof the U-shaped strip 15 is formed in one side ofthe pin 36. A set screw 38 may begprovided to maintain the forming pin in proper position. The piston 27 and pull-down shaft 26 are arranged to motie :the length'of 'one 'clip blankfrom their low'er to 4 upper position. When the shaft 26 moves, the clip guide 31, latch 34, latch block 33, cutoff bar 32 and forming pin 36, all move as a unit.

In the upper position of the pull-down shaft shown in Fig. l, the latch 34 is positioned to engage a pair of notches in the U-shaped strip 15. Thereafter downward movement of the shaft 26 moves the strip 15 downwardly a distance equal to the length of a clip blank (Fig. 6) and positions the lower end of the strip 15 in position to have one clip blank severed from the lower end thereof by a suitable cutoff member or knife which cooperates with the cutoff bar 32 when the latter is in its lower position.

The rear supporting plate 13 is provided with parallel, forwardly extending ribs 13u and 13b which together with the plate 13 form a guide or channel in which the pull-down shaft 26 slides (Fig. 4). Removal of the shaft from its channel is prevented by a guide plate 39 detachable secured to lthe front of the rib 13b.

Latch means are also provided for maintaining the strip 15 stationary while the vshaft 26 is moved from its lower to upper position. A block 41 is secured to the rear supporting plate 13 and the forward end thereof is bifurca'ted forming a central slot. Mounted in this slot about a pivot at its upper end, is a latch 42 which is urged forward toward the channel-shaped strip 15 by a spring 43. The latch 42 is shaped to engage the notches in the opposite sides of the strip 15 and prevent upward movement thereof, but is rounded on its top to permit the strip to be moved downwardly while the latch 42 is moved rearwardly against the action of the spring 43. Thelatch 43 is so located that when the latch 34 carried by the pull-down shaft 26 is in its upper position the distance from the latch 34 to the latch 42 is twice the length of the individual clip blanks which are severed from the end of the strip. The above mechanism also acts as indexing means to locate accurately the strip so that a blank of exactly the proper length will be severed from the lower end thereof.

While the machine embodying the present invention may be used for closing and sealing various types of flexible casings, or containers having flexible portions, it is .particularly suited for use in connection with tubular casings of the general type heretofore used for sausage meats and the like. Some of these casings are secured from animals, while others are made artificially from plastics and other suitable materials. j

In the present machine two sets of gathering or iris members of the type shown in Figs. l2-l4 and 18-20, are preferably employed vfor gathering the casing on each uside of the portion that is to receive a clip. Each member of a cooperating pair preferably comprises a slide having a Ypair of diverging jaws at the inner end thereof, transversely offset from each other forming a diverging opening as viewed in side elevation. Referring to Figs. the slide 44 is .provided with a relatively large, downwardly tapering jaw 45 and an upper tapering smaller `jaw 46 laterally offset therefrom. A rounded opening 47 is provided between the jaws 45 and 46.

The other cooperating gathering or iris member 48 is provided with a relatively large downwardly tapering jaw 49 and a smaller upwardly tapering jaw 51 oifset therefrom as shown in Figs. 18-20. -A rounded groove 52 is provided adjacent the intersection of the two jaws. When the two iris members 44 and 48 are arranged with their inner ends facing each other and are moved toward each other, they cooperate to gather the casing and crowd it into the rounded inner openings 47 and 52 by constantly reducing the area between the jaws of a cooperating pair of gathering members. Referring vto Fig. 4, it will be seen that when the spaced pairs of cooperating iris members 44 and 48 vare moved toward each other, `a flexible casing.portionpositioned therebetween will be compressed at two spaced places. The space between the tworpairs assente of gathering members is preferably substantially equal to the width of a channel-shaped clip blank.

The clip forming and applying members will now be described. A pair of cooperating slides may be provided for carrying the tools employed in shaping and afiixing the clip to the casing or other container. One of the slides is preferably positioned between the two spaced crimping members at each side of the material to be closed. A guide member 53 is secured to the lower portion of the rear supporting plate 13 and extends horizontally the full length of the machine. lt is provided with a central longitudinal groove of a width to receive therein the tool holders 54 and 55, shown particularly in Figs. 6--11` and 15-17. The tool holder 54 carries the female tool (Figs. l`-l7), and the tool holder for the male tool is shown most clearly in Figs. 6-8. Top guide members 56 and 57 provided at the opposite ends of the device for guiding the upper sides of the crimping members and tool holders, have central longitudinal grooves in their lower faces in which the upper edges of the tool holders 54 and 55 slide. The iris members on each side thereof are narrower from top to bottom than the tool holders and ride on the opposed faces of the top and bottom guide members. Front guide plates SS are secured to the end frame portions 59 of the machine and maintain the iris members i4 and 48 therebetween.

The tool holder 54 is provided with a cutout portion in its upper forward corner in which is secured the female forming tool 6i?. This tool is provided with a diverging substantially V-shaped opening at its forward or inner end with the portions 60a adjacent thereto cut out to receive therein the opposed flanges of the channelshaped strip 15, as shown in Figs. and 9-1l, so that when associated lwith the female forming tool the flanges of the clip blank will not project outwardly beyond the sides of said tool. Extended rearwardly from the forward or inner end of the female tool 6i) is a pair of spaced slots 61 and 62, which are provided with openings 63 communicating with the outer surface of the tool, thus preventing any foreign material from collecting in the slots 61 and 62, and preventing the entry of the male forming tool intended to be received therein. The upper forward edge of the female forming tool is provided with a knife edge 63a for cooperating with the lower surface of the cutting bar 32 to sever clip blanks from the strip l5.

The male forming tool 64 is secured at the inner or forward end of the tool carrier slide 5S. It is also J- shaped at its inner end and is suihciently narrow from top to bottomV to slide into the slots 6l and 62 in the female forming tool, as illustrated in Figs. 7-ll. One of the jaw portions of the male forming tools preferably extends rearwardly of the other forming a ledge or projection 66, of sufficient width to permit one end of the clip to engage it and be held against rotation while Vthe clip is being forced about the casing.

The tool forming holder 54 at the left-hand side of the machine as viewed in Figs. 1 and 6, may abut the end plate 67. It is also provided with a slot in the bottom thereof for closely fitting about a transverse stop member 68. Thus, in the form of device shown in Figs. l-23, the tool holder for the male forming tool is prevented from movement. This tool holder 54 is provided with a slot 7l in the rear side thereof and the gathering or iris members i4 on each side thereof are provided with similarly situated slots 72. A coil spring 73, shown particularly in Figs. 6, 2l and 22 is positioned in said slots 7l and '72. The iris members i4 are also provided in the bottom thereof with a cutout portion "i4 for fitting over the transverse stop member 68 and permitting limited movement of the crimping members. The spring 73 normally maintains the members i4- in their forward position spaced a slight distance from the rear plate 67. However, when pressure is applied to the inner ends of theA members 44, they` can be moved rearwardly against 44 is limited by the transverse stop bar 68.

The tool holder member 5ft and the gathering or irisA members 4S on each side thereof-are moved forwardly from their retracted position shown in Fig. l, until the iris members compress the casing therebetween, and the forming tools 58 and 64 are brought togetherin overlapping relation as shown in Fig. ll. Tool holdinglm'ember 54 is` connected to the piston rod 75 of a piston 7 6 reciprocable in a cylinder '77. Suitable air supply means' are connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 77 for effecting reciprocation of the piston therein. Any suitable` means such as a pin or bolt 78 may be employed for con necting the piston rod '75 to the tool holder 54.

The tool holder 54 is provided with a `longitudinal slot 79 and the crimping members 48 on each side thereof are provided with central slots 81 lfor receiving therein' a coil spring 82. Although only the tool holding mem-fV ber 54 is shown-as being connected to the piston rod '75', when the tool holder 54 is moved forwardly lby movement of the piston 76, the iris members 48 are carriedforwardly therewith by the spring 82. However, after-- the iris members 44 and 48 are moved together to compress the casing therebetween, they remain in this posi tion while the tool carrying member 54 moves `forwardlyE and the female forming tool reaches the overlapping position with respect to the male forming tool shown in` Fig. 1l, at which time the clip is tightly forced about the casing.

In the operation of the clipping machine shown in Figs. 1-23, the various parts operate in controlled se-' quence. With the machine in the position shown ini Fig. 1, air is admitted to the cylinder 2S to `force the piston 27 and the pull-down shaft 26 downwardly to" their lower positions. As the rod 26 Vmoves downwardly the latch 311i carried thereby pulls the strip 15 downward-y ly a distance equal to the length of one clip blank andE the forming pin 36 likewise moves downwardly untilthe parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6. Air is. then supplied to the rear end of cylinder 77 to force the piston 76 inwardly, thus moving the tool carrier 54 inwardly. Upon inward movement of the female forming tool 5S, the knife edge 63a at the top thereof cooperates with the cutting bar 32, then in its lower position, to sever the portion of the channel-shaped strip 15 extending therebelow, which is one clip length. Further movement of the forming tool 58 bends the clip about the forming pin 36 into substantially a V-shape. The closed side of the channel-shaped clip lies in the groove 37 of the `forming pin 36 so that the clip blank is bent to bring the outer ends ofthe closed side of the clip toward each' other in the position shown in Fig. 9.

After this initial forming operation, airl is directed to` the opposite side of the piston 76 to move it rearwardly az slight distance to withdraw the tool 5S and the clip thereon away from the forming pin 36.' At this point air is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 28 and raises the pull-down shaft 26 upwardly carrying the forrriing pin out of the way. When this has occurred, air is again supplied to the outer end of cylinder 77 to move theb piston rod and the tool carrying member 54inwardly` again. As the tool carrying member S4 moves inwardly' the irises 4S on each side thereof are carried inwardly by' the spring 82 until they overlap and crimp the casing the grooves 47 and 52. This will also move the crimping members A against the end plate 67 against the action of the spring 73. With the casing crimped by the crimp,- ing members 44 and 43, the femaleforming'tool` and, clip blanks are carried forward by further movement ofY the tool carrier 54, until the clip is forced tightly about the crimped portion of the casing, as shown in Fig. 11.` As the lower end of the clip will abut the ledge 66, closing of the tool `forming members will result in the upper, portion of the clip being looped tightly aboutjhe, casing and beneath the lower endof the clip substantially as illustrated in Fig. 25.

The-shape of the present clip is very advantageous, as itresultsl in a clip that not only is very strong, but one which will not injure the casing or any other articles it comes into contact with in any Way. Due to the rounded Shoulders 17 of the blank, the exposed edges 83 of the applied clip are round and free of any sharp edges or corners, and with the closed side of the channel-shaped clip adjacent the casing, there is no likelihood of injuring either the casing upon which `the clip is secured or anything else coming into contact with the clip. Also the outwardly extending opposed sides of the clip act as reinforcing ribs and result in a clip of great strength that will remain tight despite rough handling of the article upon which itis secured. This permits the luse of a relatively light aluminum strip having a thickness of less than 0.02 inch -for many purposes. Even with such light material the resulting seal may be made gas and liquid tight so that food products may be kept therein for indefinite periods of time without any likelihood of spoiling.

A fully automatic double-acting clipping machine for applying pairs of spaced clips simultaneously is disclosed in Figs. 26-29. This machine is intended for use with automatic machines that continuously fi-ll endless lengths of casing with measured amounts of material. The double-acting fully automatic machine is preferably synchronized with the filling machine and simultaneously closes of the end of a filled casing portion and also the end of an unfilled casing portion which is then ready to receive a charge from the metering and filling machine. With such machines it is possible to continuously fill endless lengths of casing with metered charges of material, seal the casing with pairs of spaced clips between each of the charges, and then sever the clipped casing between the pairs of adjacent clips to form the completed individual articles.

The construction of the fully automatic double-acting machine is substantially the same as the single-acting machine except that many parts or groups of parts, such as the iris members and forming tools, are duplicated and arranged side-by-side as shown in Fig. 27. 1n this form o-f machine there is a central supporting structure 101 in` which the pull-down shaft 102 reciprocates (Fig.` 28). Only a single pull-down shaft is required as the various parts carried thereby are arranged on opposite sides thereof instead of only on one side as in the singleacting' machine.

A pair of cooperating shaping rolls is rotatably lmounted oneach side of the supporting structure. Each pair includes a roll 103 having a peripheral groove and a cooperating roll 104 having a peripheral bead thereon for giving a channelV shape to the strips previously described herein. On each side of the pull-down shaft 102 there is a clip guide member 105 having a `groove on its inner face for receiving the rounded closed side of the channel-shaped strip 15. At the lower end of each of the strip guides 105 there is a cutoff bar 106. Also mounted on opposite sides of the shaft 102 are latches 107 mounted in blocks 108 and held against the strips 15 by springs 109. Positioning latches 111 mountedl on stationary blocks 112 and also held against the strips 15 by springs 113 hold the channel-shaped strips stationary while the shaft and latches 107 are being moved from lower to upper position. Also carried on each side of the shaft 102 are forming pins 114 shown particularly in Fig. 29. The pins 114 `have slots 115 in one side thereof similar to the pin 36 for receiving the rounded sides orf the channel-shaped strips 15.

'lhe shaft 102 is reciprocated by a piston 117 in a cylinder 1-1-8. As in the single acting machine, the length ofthe stroke of the piston 117 is controlled by the posi-` tion'-A of the plug 119 held in desired position by a set Screw' 120i,l

Two spaced substantially parallel tool carriers 121,` similar to the tool carrying members 54 and having female forming tools 122 at their inner ends, are arranged at opposite sides of the central supporting structure 101. A gathering member 123 similar to the gathering member t8 is positioned on each side of the tool carrying members 121, thus forming two sets, each of which consists of a tool carrying member with its tool and a gathering member 123 on each side thereof. Both tool carrying members 121 are connected by suitable means to the piston rod 12d of a piston 125 mounted in the air cylinder 126.

A coil spring 127 is positioned in the openings pro-n vided therefor in the tool carrier 121 and the gathering` members 123, thus tendingk to move the gathering memers with their adjacent tool carrying member. As in the single-acting machine the top and bottom guides for the tool carriers and gathering members are provided with grooves in which the upper and lower edges of the tool carrying members 121 ride while the upper and lower edges of the gathering members on each side thereof engage the opposed faces of the guides on both sides of the grooves. Suitable front and rear cover plates 127a are also provided at the right end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 26.

lt is thus to be seen that except for the duplication of various parts or groups of parts, the central and right end portions of the double-acting machine are substantially the same as those in the single-acting machine.

However, the left end of the double-acting machine, as viewed in Fig. 26, is constructed to provide the reciproca-` tion of the tool carrying members and the gathering or iris members 129 adjacent thereto. Two spaced, substantially parallel tool carrying members 128 are arranged for cooperating with the tool carrying members 121. Mounted in the inner ends of the tool carriers 128 there are male forming tools 131 which are substantially the same as the male forming tools 64. Coil springs 132 are arranged in similar openings 133 provided therefor in the tool carriers 128 and the iris members 129 on each side of the tool carriers for moving each group as a unit.

The tool carrier 12S is connected at its outer end to the piston rod 134 of a piston 135 in an air cylinder 136. Suitable conduits are provided for the supply of air toand the exhaust of air from the opposite sides of the piston 135.

A bottom guide member 137 extending the length of` the machine is provided with spaced grooves in the bottom thereof in which the lower edges of the toolY carrying mem-bers 128 and 121 ride at opposite ends 0f the machine. An upper guide member 133 positioned above the tool carrying members 128 also has grooves therein in which the upper edges of the tool memebrs 128 ride. The iris members 129 on each side of the tool carriers 128r engage the opposed faces of the guide members 137 and 138 adjacent the grooves. Suitable cover plates 141 are also provided adjacent the outer faces of the iris members 129, and serve with the central supporting plate to provide a pasageway for each tool carrier 12S and the' adjacent iris member 129.

In the operation of the double-acting machine the piston 117 is first actuated to pull down the shaft 102 fromV its upper position, shown in Fig. 26, to its lower posi-V tion with the initial forming pins opposite the female forming tools 122. When the pull-down shaft 102 has reached its lower position the piston is actuated to move the female forming tools 122 inwardly a distance sufficient to sever clip blanks from the lower end of the strips 15 and initially shape the severed blanks until they are substantially V-shaped, as shown in Fig. 9. Piston 125 is then forced outwardly to retract the tools 122 after which the pull-down bar is returned to its upper position. Thereupon pistons 125 and 135 are simultaneously moved inwardly to carry the tools and iris" members connected to each inwardly. This continues @essere untilfthe irisl members 123 and 129 gather the casing in the rounded openings adjacent the intersection of their jaws. While the iris members remain in this position the forming tools 122 and .131 continue to move inwardly until they cooperate to force the clip blanks in a loop tightly about the casing portion, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 1l. The pistons 125 and 135 are then retracted to their outer position.

The double-acting machine as heretofore pointed out is preferably synchronized with a metering and filling machine, in such manner that as soon as the endless casing has received a charge of material, the clipping machine goes through one complete cycle to secure a pair of spaced clips to the casing. The clipping machine then remains stationary while another charge is supplied to the casing and the casing with-the charge therein is moved to a position to receive two more clips at which time the clipping machine is again actuated. With the present singleor double-acting machine, clips formed of relatively light material may be quickly and easily secured to flexible casing portions to seal them olf. The clips when in place are sufficiently strong to maintain the 'iti side of said blank tightly `about the casing portion to bey closed, said tools having opposed diverging jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of saidi blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, and being movable between a spaced position permitting the insertion therebetween of a casing portion to be closed, and clamping position with the` inner jaw portions adjacent each other, and means for forcing said tools from spaced position to clamping position to force said clip tightly about the casing portion between said tools.

6. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped yin cross section to a exible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed closed portion of the casing gas and liquid tight despite rough handling. I

While particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine for applying susbtantially straight clip blanks substantially U-shaped in transverse section to a exible `portion to be closed, bending mechanism for relatively moving the ends of the closed side of said substantially straight blank a distance towards each other, and shaping means for forcing the closed side of said bent clip blank about the portion to be closed with the opposed sides extending outwardly therefrom and the ends of said clip in superposed position.

2. In a machine for applying clip blanks to a flexible portion to be closed, mechanism for forming a strip of clip material into a channel member substantially U- shaped in transverse section, cutting means for severing a clip blank from said channel member, bending mechanisr'n for relatively moving the ends of the closed side of said clip blank a distance towards each other, and shaping means for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the portion to be closed with the opposedl sides extending outwardly therefrom.

3. In a machine for applying substantially straight clip blanks substantially U-shaped in transverse section to a flexible portion to be closed, bending mechanism shaped to engage said U-shaped blank operable to relatively move the ends of the closed side of said substantially straight blank distance towards each other, members for gathering the casing portion adjacent the portion to be closed, and shaping means shaped to engage said bent blank for forcing the closed side of said bent clip blank tightly about the portion to be closed with the opposed sides extending outwardly therefrom.

4. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a flexible easing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed,lsaid tools having opposed diverging jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, and means for moving said tools relatively towards each other to force said clip into substantially a closed loop.

5. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a flexible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed, said tools having opposed diverging jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, the jaw portion of one of said tools being relatively 4narrow and the other tool having slots extending inwardly from the end thereof for receiving said narrow jaw portion therein, and means for moving said tools relatively toward each other to force said clip` into substantially a closed loop.

7. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a iiexible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed, said tools having opposed diverging jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, one of said jaw portions having a projection thereon for being abutted by one end of said blank to pre-l vent movement of said endpast the projection, and means for moving said tools relatively toward each other to force said clip into substantially a closed loop with the closed side of said blank adjacent said casing portion and the opposed sides extending outwardly. l

8. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to flexible casing portions to be closed, a shaping member about which said blank may be bent into substantially V-shape with the closed side in-I wardly, movable into operative position adjacent the closed side of said blank and away therefrom, bending mechanism for bending said clip into substantially V- shape about said shaping member and cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of the substantially` V-shaped blank tightly about the portion to be closed,

Y said tools having diverging portions of a size andshape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending` opposed sides thereof, and means for moving said cooperating forming tools toward and away from each other.

9. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shapedin cross section to flexible casing portions to be closed, means for feeding said clip blanks, cooperating forming tools positioned on opposite sides of the path of feed of said blanks having diverging jaw portions for shaping said blanks and forcing the closed side thereof about said casing portions, means for moving said tools relatively toward and away from each other, a shaping member movable into and out of operative position in the path of one of said tools and adjacent the closed side of a blank, said shaping member when in operative position acting to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides and adjacentthe ends thereof and bend the blank carried thereagainst -by movement of `said last tool into substantiallya V-shape.` t t t 10. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shalped cross section to flexible casing portions to .be closed, reciprocating -means for intermittently feeding'- said blanks, cooperating forming tools positioned on opposite sides of the path of feed of said blanks having diverging jaw portions for shaping said blanks and forcing the closed side thereof about said casing portions, means for moving said tools relatively toward and away from each other, a shaping member associated with said clip feeding means and movable thereby into and out of operative position in the path of one of said tools and adjacent the closed side of one of said blanks, said shaping member when in operative position acting to bend the blank carried thereagainst by movement of said last tool into substantially a V-shape.

11. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a exible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools movable toward and away from each other for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about said casing portion, cooperating iris members adjacent opposite sides of said forming tools having diverging jaw portions movable toward and away from each other for gathering the flexible material adjacent the casing portion to receive a clip, said iris members being resiliently connected to said forming tools and movable therewith.

12. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a tiexible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed, said tools having opposed diverging jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, a pair of cooperating iris members adjacent said forming tools having diverging jaw portions movable relatively toward and away from each other for gathering the exible material adjacent the casing portion to receive a clip, and means for moving said tools and said iris members relatively toward each other to gather the material and loop said clip tightly thereabout.

13. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a flexible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed, said tools having opposed diverging jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, a pair of cooperating iris members adjacent said forming tools having diverging jaw portions movable relatively toward and away from each other for gathering the exible material adjacent the casing portion to receive a clip, means for moving said tools relatively toward and away from each other and means tending to relatively move said iris members with said tools.

14. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a flexible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcingr the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed, said tools having opposed diverging' jaw portions of a size and shape to engage the outer surface of said blank between the outwardly extending opposed sides thereof, a pair of cooperating iris members adjacent opposite sides of said forming tools having diverging jaw portions arranged adjacent said tools and movable relatively toward and away from each other for gathering the exible material adjacent the casing portion to receive a clip, at least one of said iris members normally extending inwardly toward the other beyond the inner end of the adjacent tool, means for moving said tools relatively toward and away from each other, and means' tending to` relatively mov-e said iris members with said tools'.

15. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to a flexible casing portion to be closed, cooperating forming tools for forcing the closed side of said blank tightly about the casing portion to be closed, said tools having opposed divergingl jaw portions for engaging thc outer surface of said blank bebetween the' outwardly extending opposedsides thereof,` a

pair of cooperating iris members having diverging jaw portions arranged adjacent said tools and movablel relatively toward and away from each other for gathering the flexible material adjacent the casing portion to` receive a clip, at least one of said iris members normally extending inwardly toward the other beyond the inner end of the adjacent tool, resilient means connecting said tools and their adjacent iris members, and means for moving said tools relatively toward and away from each other.

16. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially U-shaped in cross section to exible casing portions to be closed, means for feeding clip blanks, cooperating form-A ing tools positioned on opposite sides of the path of feed of said blanks for shaping said blanks and forcing the closed side thereof about said casing portions, actuating means for moving said cooperating forming tools rela-y tively toward and away from each other, a shaping member movable into and out of operative position in the path of one of said tools and adjacent the closed side of a blank, a pair of cooperating iris members having diverging jaw portions arranged adjacent said tools and relatively movable toward and away from each other, for'` gathering the exible material adjacent the casing portion to receive a clip, at least one of said iris members normally extending inwardly toward the other beyond the inner end of the adjacent tool, and means tending to relatively move said iris members with said tools.

17. In a machine for applying clip blanks substantially' U-s'haped in cross section to exible casing portions to be closed, means for feeding clip blanks, cooperating forming tools positioned on opposite sides of the path of feed of said blanks for shaping said blanks and forcing the closed side thereof about said casing portions, actuating means for moving said cooperating forming tools relatively toward and away from each other, a shaping member movable into and out of operative position in the path of one of said tools and adjacent the closed side of a blank, a pair of cooperating iris members having diverging jaw portions arranged adjacent said tools and relatively movable toward and away from each other for gathering the flexible material adjacent the casing portion to receive a clip, at least one of said iris members normally extending inwardly toward the other be-V yond the inner end of the adjacent tools, means tending to relatively move said iris members with said tools, and control means for synchronizing said actuating means to move one of said tools toward said shaping member when the latter is in operative position to initially shape a blank, reverse said tool and thereafter when said shapingf member is in inoperative position, relatively move said tools and iris members together.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 407,708 Weaver July 23, '1889*r 526,080 Lefeber Sept. 18, 1894 557,378 Gill Mar. 31, 1896I 1,407,977 Ziler Feb. 28, 1922 1,493,075 Hirschhorn May 6, 1924' 1,673,683 Ingram June 12, 1928 1,836,497 Phelps Dec. 15, 1931 1,869,116 Rambold July 26, 1932 1,939,631 Randall Dec. 12, 1933l 2,051,097 McCohey Aug. 18, 1936 2,099,624 Robarge Nov. 16, 1937 2,130,779 Smith Sept. 20, 1938' 2,202,905 Goodstein Iune 4, 1940 2,265,277 Gerke Dec. 9, 19,41 2,694,198 Frank Nov. 16, 1954 2,709,255 Frank May 31, 1955 

